Concerted efforts by the police, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET), the Namibian Defense Force and the Central Intelligence Services have uncovered the sinister operations of an active rhino poaching syndicate in the Kunene region, with senior government officials, police officers and members of the public implicated.

The findings are contained in two scathing reports by a verification team on three poached rhinos, which escaped from Etosha National Park between May and October. Subsequent investigations identified 15 people (including Namibians, Angolans and a Chinese national) as part of the syndicate’s network.